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The classroom was bustling with noise, especially around a particular group engaged in a serious Rock Paper Scissors showdown.
Four tables were arranged beside each other as four hands repeatedly shot in and out.
The usual rambunctious gang consisted of Juliet, Noah, Kei, Aaron, and Joe, who had been roped into the game but lost the first round. Now, he stood on the sidelines near Juliet, cheering her on.
Joe: “You’ve got this, boss! I know you’ll beat them!”
Juliet: “Damn right I will! That clementine is mine!”
Kei: “That’s where you’re mistaken. Kekek!”
Noah was quiet, watching the action.
Aaron: “You absolute fools. We all know who the real winner is here.”
The intense battle was for a singular clementine that a classmate had given away because they didn’t want it anymore. Somehow, Juliet had managed to rope everyone into the fight for it, and now they were here. Joe didn’t really understand all the intensity but played along.
Then, out of nowhere, Joe received a phone call.
Joe: “I’m going to step out for a bit.”
He walked out and closed the door behind him, finding himself in the quieter hallway as he picked up the call. It was his grandma.
Joe: “Grams? Is something wrong?”
Joe’s grandma: “No, nothing’s the matter. I just wanted to tell you to come home early today, okay?”
Joe: “Sure, I’ll do that.”
Joe’s grandma: “Then I’ll see you soon. Bye, sweetie!”
Joe tried to say goodbye back, but the call had ended. He was thoroughly confused.
Joe: “Well, it’s not like I was going to do anything after school anyway.”
He returned to the classroom, where the atmosphere was filled with cries of anguish.
The match had ended with Aaron as the victor. He was happily peeling the clementine while the others drowned in their losses.
Juliet: “AUGGHH! HE PULLED AN UNO REVERSE!”
Kei was comforting Noah, who seemed the saddest. It was clear he really wanted that clementine.
Aaron: “Wow, it’s really sweet.”
Somehow, that made Kei cry, and now he was being comforted by Noah. As the flood of tears flowed, Noah kept giving Kei reassuring head pats.
Joe: “Woah, it’s a mess. What happened while I was gone?”
Aaron had finished eating his prize.
Juliet: “Alright, let’s head home. Didn’t think that would last so long.”
Today, all five of them walked home together.
Sometimes, a person or two would be missing, but for the most part, Joe was wherever Juliet was, and Juliet was usually around Noah and Kei.
Wherever they were, it was usually loud; they would either race each other or engage in silly banter.
Eventually, they reached a fork in the road where they typically separated.
Juliet and Aaron usually took the same direction since their houses were close, while Noah and Kei went a different way together. The group always parted at this spot, and Noah and Kei left first.
Kei: “Bye, guys! See you tomorrow!”
While Kei waved, Noah did too. Then, they naturally held hands as they walked away.
As they got further, Joe could see just how happy they were together. In some ways, he felt envious.
Juliet: “Now that the ‘stupid couple’ is gone, it’s just the three of us, huh?”
Joe: “Yup.”
Juliet: “Man, I’m hungry, though. I think I’m going to drop by the ramen place.”
Aaron: “Let me come with. I’m hungry too.”
Juliet: “Didn’t you just eat that clementine?”
Aaron: “That isn’t enough to fill me.”
Juliet: “You coming with, Joe?”
Joe really wanted to join them, especially since Juliet invited him, but he knew he had to decline.
Joe: “I can’t today…”
Even though he really wanted to.
Juliet: “Alright, maybe next time. See ya, Joe. I’ll tell you how good the ramen is.”
Aaron: “I’ll give you my ratings on it as well.”
Joe: “I don’t need your thoughts on it!”
Joe sighed as he said goodbye to the two. Then he took a different path toward home. It was just another average day.
Nothing was wrong, but nothing was outstanding either. By the time he realized it, Joe was standing in front of his house. He unlocked the door and slowly stepped inside.
“Grams, I’m back!” Joe called out.
His grandma suddenly appeared out of nowhere, nearly giving Joe a heart attack.
“Oh, perfect timing! I just finished preparing the dye. Come with me,” she said.
“Whoa! What’s the dye for? Grams? Grams!?” Joe responded, but he didn’t get an answer as he was pulled along into the bathroom. He was told to stay still as he sat in an empty bathtub.
“Grams? What’s happening?” he asked, feeling confused.
Without warning, water was poured over Joe's head, and it was gently dried afterward.
“I’m dying your hair, what else?” Grams replied with a smile.
Joe was surprised but didn’t mind that his hair was getting dyed out of nowhere. He had wanted to change his hair color for a while but had been too lazy to do it. He was more curious about why his grandma suddenly wanted to dye his hair.
The dye was a natural black, his original hair color before he had dyed it. Joe watched as his grandma began blending the color into his hair.
“So, why are you dying my hair again, Grams?” he asked.
“The hair you have now would make you stick out like a sore thumb over there,” she explained.
“Where?” Joe questioned.
“The countryside, where your grandpa is!” Grams replied.
“I guess it would, but why does that matter? I’m not over there,” Joe said, trying to understand.
“That’s because you’ll be staying with your grandpa for a while,” Grams informed him.
“Wait... WHAT? WHY?” Joe exclaimed, still processing the information.
“I know it’s sudden, but I decided yesterday that you would be going,” she said.
“Wait, but Grams, why?” Joe pressed.
“Joe, I heard from the college that you’re not doing so well in your classes,” she explained.
“Urk... well, they’re not wrong, but if that’s the only problem, I can fix it...” Joe replied.
“I know you can, but you seem tired,” Grams said, her tone worried.
“Tired? Me? I feel the same as usual!” Joe argued.
“Shush, child. You can’t fool me; something is bothering you, and you won’t tell me,” Grams insisted.
Joe fell silent. He really did feel the same—nothing new, but nothing terrible either.
“That’s why I thought some fresh air in the countryside with your grandpa could help lighten things up,” she suggested.
“Maybe... but if I leave, what about you?” Joe asked, concern in his voice.
“I’m the last person you should be worried about. I’ll be fine. Plus, your friends come to visit sometimes too. What a fun bunch—quite good-looking, too,” she said with a chuckle.
“First time I’m hearing about this?!” Joe reacted in surprise.
“They visit when you’re out working and drop by to try my cooking. You have good friends,” Grams smiled as she brushed the second layer of dye through Joe's hair.
“Yeah, they’re cool,” Joe agreed.
“If anything, I’m more worried about that husband of mine! Doing all that work by himself!” Grams said with a playful frown.
“Why not call or video chat him and ask?” Joe suggested.
“You know he and I don’t know how to work those things; we just stick to letters. Your grandpa agreed to my idea after all,” she explained.
“Even Gramps is on board?” Joe asked, surprised.
“That’s right! You’ll be heading out first thing tomorrow. I already paid for your ticket and everything,” she revealed.
“Already?? And that early? I guess I should tell the others I’ll be gone for a while,” Joe said, feeling overwhelmed.
“All done! While we wait for the color to set in, why don’t you go pack your things?” Grams instructed.
“Alright,” Joe replied as his grandma left the bathroom to prepare other things he would need for his trip.
He sat in the bathtub for a while, absorbing the situation. The smell of the dye became overwhelming, so he finally decided to get out and head upstairs to his room.
Unsure of what to pack, he grabbed the basics, which surprisingly didn’t amount to much.
Everything fit perfectly into a backpack. Meanwhile, his school bag was left wide open, with papers falling out.
Joe accidentally stepped on a paper, crumpling it beneath his foot. Though he was already in college, he lacked passion for anything in particular, which explained his grades. He just went with the flow.
The crumpled paper bore the words “It’s never too late to find your dream!” in big, bold letters. Joe stared at it for a moment before shoving it back into his school bag.
“I’ll just think of this as a vacation from classes. If I look at it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad,” he thought.
“Joe, the dye is done! Come downstairs so I can wash it out! Did you finish packing?” Grams called from below.
“Yeah, I’m coming!” Joe replied, making his way back to the bathroom.
After washing his hair, he looked in the mirror and saw a completely different person. Previously, his hair had been dyed blonde and styled awkwardly with gel. He wanted to stand out, but now he looked surprisingly normal and approachable compared to his previous appearance.
“You look very nice! Now get to bed so you have an early start tomorrow,” Grams said with approval.
“Okay, Grams. Goodnight,” Joe replied, feeling a bit uncertain.
As he settled into bed, he felt like he was forgetting something, which nagged at him, but he soon brushed it aside. Unable to sleep well that night, Joe pulled an all-nighter playing a game that Kei had recommended.
It was a peculiar dating game that seemed very popular these days, revolving around the idea of winning someone over through messages.
Although Joe didn’t get a wink of sleep, he managed to avoid many distracting thoughts and unlocked various routes in the game.
Joe wondered, “Is it even possible to get married at a space station?!”
By the time he realized it was morning, the sunlight streaming through his window was blinding him.
“Joe! Get up! It's time to get going, or you’ll miss your flight!” his grandma called.
“Okay, Grams,” Joe replied.
He quickly changed his clothes and grabbed his bag. Normally, he would gel his hair and style it in his usual quirky way, but today he chose to simply comb it and leave it as it was.
At 5 a.m., Joe realized he had become somehow invested in the game. He could sympathize with Kei a little more now. Although he was tired, he felt awake at the same time.
As he stood at the door, he hugged his grandma tightly.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you? Do you want me to come with you to the airport?” she asked.
“No, it’s fine, Grams. I’m not a little boy anymore. You have classes to teach today, right? The airport isn’t that far,” Joe reassured her.
“Just be careful, okay, Joe?” she said, concern in her voice.
“I’ll let you know when I get there,” he promised.
His grandma pulled him into one last big hug before she left. Joe was the last to step out of the house. After a short walk, he hailed a taxi.
He arrived at the airport and boarded his flight, feeling incredibly tired now.
As he settled into his seat, he took a nice nap. During his sleep, he dreamed of being in an otome game.
“That dream was so strange; it must have been the game’s influence,” Joe thought as he woke up to find that he had arrived at the small island.
Joe had to wait for a bus to take him to his grandpa’s ranch. It would be way too far to walk.
His grandpa owned a large amount of land—so much that even Joe didn't understand why—and he tended to it all by himself, insisting that he could manage.
Joe’s grandparents were a bit unusual. Despite being married for years, they didn’t live together. His grandma adored the city, while his grandpa loved the countryside.
Although they tried to understand each other, they couldn’t last a day outside their respective comfort zones. Eventually, they decided to do what was best for both of them.
Joe could only sigh. If they were happy and still together after all these years, he figured it didn’t really matter.
Now, Joe was on the bus, which was mostly empty as expected. He sat in the very back seat. The bus only had two elderly ladies who were gossiping to each other.
Joe looked out the window and saw nothing but grass. He grew tired of looking at the same scenery and decided to check his phone. He had received messages after getting off the airplane but hadn’t had time to read them.
When he turned on his phone, he saw messages from the group chat.
Juliet: [Heard from your grandma that you’re going to the countryside? Haha, you’re going to become a country bumpkin!]
Aaron: [Ew, the countryside? Is there anything there? Gross, I could never!]
Kei: [There's barely any internet in the countryside! I would die!1!1!]
Noah: [🐓🐓🐓]
Joe scrunched up his face while reading the messages, trying to respond.
Joe: [Y'all aren’t helping.]
As he attempted to send the message, it failed. He realized, looking at the nonexistent service bars on his phone, that Kei was right.
Joe: “Ah, shoot, there really isn’t any internet here.”
He gave up trying to send the message and using his phone in general, so he placed it back in his bag.
The bus came to a stop where Joe needed to get off, and he noticed a good-looking guy waiting outside the bus stop.
The guy wore a sunhat, a basic t-shirt, and shorts. Looking closer, Joe was surprised at how a plain white shirt could look so good on someone. The guy had blonde hair, clear blue eyes, and pale skin—a rare sight in the countryside. The two old ladies on the bus awed and began talking about him.
Old Lady 1: “My, what a handsome young man! I wonder who he’s waiting for!”
Old Lady 2: “What is someone that good-looking doing here?”
Joe was also curious about who the handsome person was waiting for. The guy kept waving his hands and calling out to someone, though Joe couldn’t quite hear what he was saying from inside the bus.
Joe got off the bus and realized he was the only one who had gotten off when the doors closed behind him. The bus drove away as he briefly made eye contact with the attractive stranger.
Joe: “Wait… could it be? He was waiting for…?”
Good-looking guy: “JOE!”
Joe slowly turned his head to see the pretty-looking person standing right next to him, his gaze unwavering.
Good-looking guy: “You are Joe, right?”
Joe: “Yes? That’s me…”
Good-looking guy: “I thought so! Your grandpa sent me to pick you up. He was worried you would get lost since it’s been a while.”
Joe: “Gramps did? Wait, who are you?”
Good-looking guy: “You can call me Will. Now, let’s get going, Joe!”
Joe: “Right!”
Will: “Let me carry your stuff!”
Joe was confused; he literally only had a backpack, but Will insisted on carrying it nonetheless.
Joe: “Thank you.”
Will: “You came from the city, right?”
Joe: “Yeah.”
Will: “Do you miss it already?”
Joe thought for a while and remembered Juliet and the others, even though he had only been away for a day.
Joe: “Just a bit.”
Will: “Is there anything or anyone you miss in particular?”
Joe: “If I had to say, right now, I miss—”
Both Joe and Will: “Ice cream!”
Will: “We think alike.”
Joe: “I really want a double pop right now.”
Will: “Never had one of those before.”
Joe: “Really? They’re the ones with two sticks.”
Will: “Oh! To share!”
Joe: “I usually just eat one by myself, but we should share one sometime.”
Will: “I’m looking forward to it!”
After a lot of walking, Joe was sweating from the heat. Will seemed to notice and plopped his sunhat onto Joe's head.
Will: “Take it; you need it more than I do. Haha.”
Joe: “Thank you…”
The sunhat really did help a lot. At some point, Will suddenly stopped by a wheat field.
Then, he grabbed Joe’s hand and pulled him right through the field.
Joe: “WHAT? WILL?!”
Will: “I KNOW THIS SHORTCUT!”
The two ran through the wheat field quickly. Joe felt the wheat brush against him as they ran and was unexpectedly filled with nostalgia. He remembered the wheat field being much shorter, but now the stalks towered over him while Will, who was taller, navigated easily.
They passed by a scarecrow that looked oddly familiar. It didn’t really look scary…
Joe laughed a bit.
Joe: “I’m glad it’s still here.”
When they reached the other side of the wheat field, they fell flat onto the ground from exhaustion.
Will: “That was fun, right, Joe? And we saved so much time!”
Joe: “Yeah, it was fun, but now I’m covered in wheat pieces.”
Will: “Haha, me too! We match.”
Will offered a hand and easily pulled Joe up from the ground.
Joe was glad to see the same old house he remembered from his childhood now standing in front of him.
Will opened the door for him. Before stepping inside, they both realized they were still covered in wheat specs from head to toe.
Will: “You look like a scarecrow!”
Joe: “You’re one to talk!”
Will started brushing off some wheat from Joe's hair, and Joe did the same for Will. Then they finally stepped into the house, slightly less covered in wheat than before.
Will: “I brought Joe!”
Joe: “Gramps! I’m back!”
An old man came down the stairs and walked straight up to Joe, pulling him into a large bear hug.
Joe’s grandpa: “It’s been so long, my boy! Look at how much you’ve grown!”
Joe: “Yeah, it’s only been a few years or so.”
Will smiled at the two’s reunion as he stepped back outside.
Will: “I’ll be at the farm. See you later, Grandpa and Joe!”
Joe: “Bye, Will!”
Gramps: “I almost forgot.”
His grandpa went to the kitchen and brought out some food wrapped in a small blanket, which he handed to Joe.
Gramps: “Can you bring this out to Rye? That boy hasn’t eaten anything all day!”
Joe: “Rye? Wait, where is he?”
Gramps: “He should be at the beach. He usually goes there when it’s empty, so it should be easy to find him.”
Joe: “That’s fine, but do I have to walk all the way there?”
It had been a few years, but even Joe remembered that the beach was far from home.
Gramps: “You can take the bike you used to ride.”
Joe: “Eh? You still have it? Do I even fit on it?”
Gramps brought Joe outside to where his old bike was. It looked smaller than he remembered, but Joe decided he could make it work.
He placed the food into the bike’s basket and pedaled away.
Joe: “I’ll be back!”
Gramps waved and kept waving until Joe was out of sight.
As Joe rode, he could smell the saltwater. He parked the bike, took the food out, and walked toward the beach.
There was a high stone path separating the sand from the grass. Joe hopped from stone to stone as he made his way closer to the shore.
He stopped for a moment to look at the ocean waves.
Joe: “It’s really been a while since I’ve been here.”
In the distance, he saw a person surfing on the waves, and they were incredibly good at it too.
The waves pushed them back to the shore as they came into view.
Joe: “Could that person be...?”
The beach was deserted, with only Joe and that person present. The surfer was now sitting on a towel underneath an umbrella, staring off at the ocean as the waves crashed together.
Joe walked up to them. The closer he got, the more he realized it was yet another attractive person.
They had red hair and green eyes like emeralds, all while looking handsome in a wetsuit.
Good looking surfer guy: “By any chance, are you Joe?”
Joe: “Yup, that’s me.”
Good looking surfer guy: “Your grandpa told me a lot about you, but you’re even smaller in person.”
Joe: “Are you sure it’s not because you’re built like a beanpole?”
Good looking surfer guy: “Impressive. I’m Rye.”
Rye’s stomach made a loud noise.
Rye: “And I haven’t eaten.”
Joe: “I brought food that Gramps sent for you.”
Rye put his hands together as if silently thanking Gramps for the food.
Rye: “Thank you, Gramps! You have saved me once again. So, what did he send?”
Joe: “I didn’t check; I don’t know.”
Rye motioned for Joe to sit down next to him so they could both check out the food Gramps had sent.
Joe was curious about what his grandpa could have possibly made for Rye. Inside the small basket were rice balls.
Rye: “Have some with me, Joe.”
Joe: “I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Rye: “Now let’s see who gets what filling.”
Joe and Rye both took a bite out of their rice balls. Immediately, Joe's face wrinkled up. Meanwhile, Rye laughed looking at Joe's expression.
Rye: “Nice expression you got there! What did you get?”
Joe: “Pickled plum.”
Rye: “I got chicken! Haha! From that face, I’m guessing you don’t like plum?”
Rye was right; Joe disliked anything sour or spicy, so he wasn’t happy with this outcome.
Rye: “I like plum, so let’s trade.”
Joe's expression brightened as he happily traded with Rye. After eating together, Joe figured it was time to head back, so he slowly got up.
Rye: “Hold up, Joe. You’ve got a bit of something…”
Rye said as he wiped Joe’s cheek with his finger. All Joe felt, however, was a ton of sand being brushed onto his face.
Joe: “There wasn’t anything there, was there?”
Rye: “Haha, nope! See you, Joe!”
Joe stuck out his tongue, rubbing the newly acquired sand off his face as he made his way back to his bike.
He rode all the way back and leaned the bike against the fence. After brushing off some more sand, he returned to the house.
Joe: “I did the task, Gramps.”
Gramps: “Oh, thank you, Joe!”
Gramps appeared out of nowhere, much like Grandma, and it gave Joe a mini heart attack. It made sense why the two were married.
Gramps: “Why not head out for a walk in the back? It’s quite nice out now that the sun is setting.”
Joe: “Guess I’ll do that then.”
Joe walked along a stone path that led to the spacious backyard. The many trees covered the area and provided a cool, shady spot.
He noticed something new: a glass greenhouse. Driven by curiosity, Joe decided to go inside.
Joe: “I don’t remember Gramps owning a greenhouse?”
The inside was beautiful. There were tons of plants on the walls, in pots, and even hanging from the ceiling.
Many types of butterflies fluttered around the blooming flowers that filled the space.
As he got closer, Joe noticed another stunning person. This individual was more on the side of beautiful as they peacefully watered the flowers.
Upon closer inspection, Joe saw that the person had tanned skin, long white hair that was styled into a braid draping over one shoulder, and striking pitch-black eyes.
Despite their overalls, they looked exceptionally good.
Joe: “Hello..?”
Beautiful guy: “AaaaaAaaAAAAhHhH!”
Joe: “AaaaaAAAAAAAAHHHHH!”
They screamed at each other while backing away from one another.
Beautiful guy: “I apologize; I was surprised by your sudden appearance.”
Joe: “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, but I got scared too.”
Beautiful guy: “It’s fine. Are you, by any chance, Joe?”
Joe: “It seems everyone knows me already; yeah, that’s me.”
Beautiful guy: “Your grandfather was kind enough to tell me about you. Nice to meet you, Joe. My name is Nea.”
Nea extended his hand to Joe. They shook hands before Nea returned to watering the flowers, looking genuinely happy.
Joe: “What kind of flowers are these?”
Joe asked, honestly unsure about flower names or how to grow plants. That was more Noah’s interest.
Nea: “Geraniums. I’m very happy that they are looking good today.”
Joe: “I see; they’re pretty.”
Nea: “Very much so. All flowers are. Ah, Joe, stay still for a moment.”
Nea came closer to Joe and gently removed a butterfly from his shoulder. The butterfly perched on his finger as he showed it to Joe.
Joe: “Wow, even this butterfly is pretty.”
Nea: “This is a swallowtail; its colors are quite beautiful.”
Joe: “You sure know a lot, Nea.”
Nea: “I have a lot more to learn.”
For a while, Nea showed Joe all the different flowers he was tending to until Joe realized it was getting late and he needed to head back.
Joe: “I’m going to go first then. Bye Nea! Thanks for showing me around!”
Nea: “Farewell, Joe, but do be careful.”
Joe: “Huh?”
Just as Nea warned him, Joe slipped and was about to fall face-first until Nea caught him.
Somehow, he found himself in Nea’s arms, both of them in a strange, almost toppled-over position.
Joe: “That was close; thanks, Nea.”
Nea: “It’s not a problem.”
Joe thanked Nea and headed back to the house, drawn in by the enticing aroma of food cooking.
Joe: “Gramps, I’m back! Gramps?”
He received no answer and followed the delicious smell wafting from the kitchen.
Joe: “Gramps? Are you here?”
A deep voice replied, “If you’re looking for your Gramps, he’s out on his usual stroll.”
When Joe walked into the kitchen, he was met by yet another strikingly attractive person. He was dressed in casual clothing with an apron, had brown hair and hazel eyes, and his build gave him an imposing presence. Yet, despite his looks, he appeared kind.
Nice-looking guy: “Gramps told me to let you know that in case you came looking for him.”
Joe: “I see; I guess he’ll be back sooner or later.”
Nice-looking guy: “Yeah, hopefully, this dish will be ready by the time he’s back. By the way, you’re Joe, right? The name’s Ivan.”
Joe: “Oh? What are you making, Ivan?”
Ivan: “It’s a type of pasta called Neapolitan. It’s dinner for the two of you.”
Joe felt bad that someone was making him dinner while he just stood by watching.
Joe: “Is there any way I can help?”
Ivan: “Oh, thanks for the offer! Can you wash the lettuce for the salad?”
Joe washed a whole cabbage in the sink while watching Ivan intricately prepare various dishes beyond just plain pasta.
Joe: “You’re really good at cooking.”
Ivan: “Is that so? I just enjoy it. Can you cook anything, Joe?”
Joe: “I can cook a mean stir fry.”
Ivan: “Haha, I’d love to try your stir fry one day.”
Joe: “Sure, be prepared to be slapped with flavor.”
Once Joe finished washing the cabbage, he wanted to help some more.
Joe: “Is there anything else?”
Ivan: “Can you cut up some vegetables for me?”
Joe: “Okay, got it!”
Joe dangerously held the knife and brought it down onto the cutting board as he cut into a cucumber, making the situation even more precarious.
Ivan immediately grew concerned.
Ivan: “Here, like this.”
Ivan held Joe’s hand, guiding him in properly slicing the cucumber. Joe had never sliced a cucumber so well before.
Ivan: “This way, you won’t cut your finger. But Joe, you really have a unique way with a knife! I’ve never seen anyone hold a knife like that.”
Joe: “Really? That’s how my grandma did things.”
Ivan: “Well, it was interesting to watch you.”
Joe stood next to Ivan, watching him stir something cooking on the stove. For some reason, Joe felt surprisingly comfortable doing so.
Ivan: “Want to try some of the soup?”
Joe: “Can I?”
Ivan: “Please do.”
Joe tasted the soup, and it was possibly the best he had ever had, even though he didn’t know what kind it was.
Ivan: “Alright, Joe, you can sit down.”
Joe obeyed and sat down. Ivan then brought over a spread of food that astonished Joe with its abundance.
Joe: “Thank you, Ivan, for the food.”
Ivan: “No problem. It’s what I like to do. Enjoy your meal, Joe; I’m going to take care of some other things.”
Joe: “Bye, Ivan. Thank you for the meal!”
Ivan waved goodbye and left the house. Joe finished a very filling dinner and then went to search for his grandpa. By the time he did, his grandpa had finally returned.
Joe: “Gramps, you’re back from your stroll!”
Gramps: “Yes, it was a good one. I see you’re back as well. Have you eaten?”
Joe: “Yes.”
Gramps: “That’s good. Why don’t you take a bath and then head to bed? It’s getting late.”
Joe: “What are you going to do, Gramps?”
Gramps: “I won’t be going to sleep for a while, so maybe I’ll write to my wife.”
Joe: “I should write one for Grandma too.”
Gramps: “Well, then I better get started. Good night, Joe.”
Joe: “Good night, Gramps.”
Joe went to take a bath. For a while, he sat in the tub, just staring at the water as his reflection stared back at him.
He felt like he was forgetting to do something, something really important that had plagued his mind all day, but he couldn’t quite pin it down.
After drying his hair, he flopped face-first onto his bed. The room he had used as a child still looked the same as it did back then.
As Joe stared at the ceiling, something clicked. It was the most important question that had been bothering him all day long.
Joe: “WAIT, GRAMPS, WHY DO YOU KNOW SO MANY ATTRACTIVE GUYS?!?”
Joe screamed and then promptly passed out from pure exhaustion.